Ain't no party, like an Innistrad Spoiler Party

Good Morning, Evening, Whatever to all those who are reading this. The only word to describe what was spoiled last night is "Whhhhhaaaaaatttttt?" I suppose that is more of a sound than a word, but I digress. Lots of tidbits, mechanics, and awesome cards were revealed to the entire world last night. This was not limited to those at the PAX party, but thanks to the social media website many people are able to share there findings.

Before I run down what was spoiled, let me give a little background about the PAX party, and PAX itself.  Penny Arcade Expo or PAX, is a gaming weekend for gamers! Created in 2004, PAX has been hailed as a weekend long celebration of gamer culture. Defining characteristics include an insider keynote speech, game industry topics, exhibitor booths from independent and major game developers and publishers, after-hours parties, tournament and freeplay areas. 


There was a lot of anticiptation ahead of last nights party. Speculation forums were awash with threads about a day and night mechanic, about how the Mayor of Avabruck would transfrom. A token card perhaps, or two different cards that interchange with each other....


So therefore Ladies and Gentlemen I give you.....




Double Sided Cards

I wonder what could be in the egg?

"Run away, run away"

Yes that is right, this card has no Magic the Gathering back, both sides are being used. Before people explode at this with things like "Oh people can see my card when I draft" and " I could see it in my deck when  shuffling my deck up" please visit the Magic the Gathering main website for extra information about these exciting new changes!!


Double Sided Card Rules

For the record, I like what this brings to the game. There are a few mechanical issues which I think playing with the cards will erase, but I am very excited to be playing with these new cards. I am no Vorthos, but I love the flavour of transforming something into something else which is in keeping with the Classic Horror theme of transformation, which is the major design factor for Innistrad. It is displays the cards in ways the original flip cards from Kamigawa, and the split cards from Apocalypse onwards do. Here is another double sided card, one which you choose which side you stay on.

If that isn't classic horror then i don't know what is. The difference between this one and Ludevic's Abomination is that you can change this card back and forth from a bat into a vampire. It gives this card flexibility that not many cards have. A 3 mana 2/2 is nothing to write home about but it gets the job done, but imagine if your opponent has a 3/3 flyer, you bat is not getting through. OK, play 2BB and get a 5/5 that bashing through your opponents monster. Nice...creature. I expect this card to receive a middling grade and garner maybe 4/5 pick status, a solid card to add to your deck, but nothing special. Speaking of special, check out the Mayor of Avabruck

I apologise for the bad picture of the Howlpack Alpha, it reads:
Other Werewolf and Wolves you control get +1/+1.
At the beginning of your end step put a 2/2 Wolf onto the battlefield.
At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player cast two or more spells last turn, transform Howlpack Alpha.

There is a exciting card. Lot of potential but I think the tempo you lose from going from Mayor to Howlpack is a lot early on in the game, but as said previously it has lots of potential that can only get better, if other good werwolves are printed. A solid all round card which I would not mind first picking in a draft.

Remember the last time something had 5 abilities on a White Creature

This creature is obviously based on the legendary monster hunter, Van Helsing. I think he does a great impression of the great man, with some monster abilites. He reminds me of Kazandu Blademaster with regards to the 2/2, First Strike, Vigilance. His other abilites look promising and I see him locking out opponents creatures for the next couple of years. The power of this card will depend on how much play Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies see, although if a mono-W aggro deck arises this will be a role player no question. A very strong card which I think will see a high pick in draft.

In addition to the flip cards we have a new Aura type: Curse. This is the keyword for enchant player previously see on Paradox Haze amongst other things. This card is not very good. In my opinion mill cards are not very good, but there are people who like them and will pick them up. Expect to see this tale wide up around pick 13/14 in most drafts.

 A cheap flyer, with a very weak drawback? Sign me up for a couple.Obviously you do not want to many a deck but looks like a solid creature in the mid to late game.

Sarcomancy, and Carnophage are both amazingly powerful cards, This card has a very high power level, because you play it turn one and it does not matter if it is tapped. Later on in the game perhaps he not that good, because you cannot block. In the decks he is good in, this zombie shines. I think he is an average card at best and we will have to wait and see whether he sees any play.

This neonate is a deceptive card. Many players would dismiss it, however it can and I think will get out of hand very quickly. Play it turn 2 and it spirals out of hand very quickly. 2 hits and it is a 4/3 which is trading some of bigger creatures.

Rare fireball....which can be used twice... Sign me up for two! Also the buy-a-box promo

Here are a set of cards from the werewolf tribe. Both are solid cards for draft decks with the ranger being above average. The arena ability of the Nightfall Predator is very strong on a 4/4, if you see they have made the ability into an evergreen keyword called "fight". The shortened version looks very good on the card, keeping everything neat and tidy but arena abilities are not liked much by the community, so we will see how this card fares. I think the Shepard is a mid to late pick with the Ranger being a high to mid pick.

 A couple more cards to go, and we carrying on by introducing Olivia Voldaron, who has a couple of Memnarch style abilites who is very very powerful, and a windmill slam first pick. She is packing creature removal on a flying 3/3 body. With the ability to steal creatures in the late game as well as putting on the pressure in the early game she is a strong candidate for a first pick in a draft.

and finally after that epic tale we come to these.

Enemy. Colour. Dual. Lands. Finally Wizards have printed enemy colour duals to help fix mana after the sac land and man-lands cycle out of standard with the imminent arrival of Innistrad. The original core duals are popular but the call for enemy colour duals was made by many players to help fix enemy colour mana bases, many of these decks are popular so the printing of these will be welcomed by all.

That was an epic session and I didn't fit all the cards in....Phew!

Well everyone, Till Next Time...